DepEd-ARMM provides psychological first aid to students displaced by Jolo fire

Cotabato City - - –  The Department of Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) is providing psychological first aid to students adversely affected by the huge fire that hit barangays Busbus and Walled City in Jolo, Sulu on Tuesday, July 24.

“Initially nagkaroon ng psychological first aid para sa mga Grade 1 to Grade 6 students,” said Atty. RasolMitmug, DepEd-ARMM secretary. Such assistance provided to victims, especially the children, help them cope with psychological trauma in the aftermath of the disaster.

The Education department, Sec. Mitmug said, has yet to verify the total number of students affected by the fire. Initial report shows 92 students from Jolo National High School, over 200 students from Sulu National High School, 100 pupils from Mohammad Tulawie Central Elementary School, and 9 pupils in Asturias Elementary School were displaced by the fire.

“Meron din kaming ino-organize na relief goods for donation,” said Sec. Mitmug. He said those who want to give their donations can visit drop-off sites such as the DepEd’s regional and divisions offices.

Reports also show that over 5,000 families, or 30,000 individuals, were displaced by the fire. Some of them are currently staying at five evacuation centers namely: Jolo Municipal Hall, Jolo Tennis Court, Philippine Muslim College, Notre Dame Gym, and Busbus Barangay Hall.

The regional government has extended initial relief assistance to the fire victims on Wednesday morning, July 25. (Bureau of Public Information / MINDANAO EXPOSE)

Globe Telecom, DepEd-ARMM launch Global Filipino Schools program

Cotabato City - - – Globe Telecom Inc., in partnership with the Department of Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM), launched here on Thursday, July 26, the Global Filipino Schools (GFS) Program.

GFS is a long-term and modern approach to education that allows 21st century learning methods to be introduced and implemented in public schools nationwide. Globe has committed to introduce the program in every schools division under the ARMM. 

The program will be delivered to one high school, or integrated school, to each of ARMM’s schools divisions. The program consists delivery of free internet connectivity, information and communications technology equipment, and proficiency training for teachers on each selected school.

“With the ARMM on board, we are very happy to say that the GFS project is already in the 17th of the 17 regions in the entire Philippines,” said Maria Yolanda Crisanto, senior vice president on communications of Globe Telecom.

“Ayaw po natin mahuli sa iba’t-ibang mga bansa, gusto ponating maging competitive din tayo, and a huge part of that competitiveness starts with education,” Crisanto said. “Kami po ay nagagalakna hindi posarado ang ARMM sa ganitong proyekto,” she added.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo dahil may mga partners tayo natinutulungan tayo hindi lamang sa communication, kundi sa strengthening na rin po ng skills ng ating mga teachers,” said DepEd-ARMM Secretary Atty. Rasol Mitmug.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Globe para sa suporta na ibinigay sa atin, pati na rin kay Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, dahil nung pag sisimula ng term niya as regional governor, isatalaga sa mga thrusts niya is to digitize and use new technologies,” Sec. Mitmug said.

Aside from GFS, Crisanto said Globe will also promote the Digital Thumb print Program created by Globe Telecom, Optus, and Singtel, which aims at turning the Filipino youth into responsible online citizens. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

DSWD-ARMM to release cash grants to IDPs in Sulu

Cotabato City - - – The Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) will be releasing on Friday, July 27, cash grants to 1,615 internally displaced persons (IDPs) under the PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program from barangays Busbus and Walled City in Jolo,Sulu.

The beneficiaries were displaced after a fire burned thousands of homes in the two barangays on Tuesday, July 24. The beneficiaries will receive the grants including P2,000 each under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program of the government. 

The UCT is a measure to protect residents classified under the no-income sectors who will not benefit from lower income taxes but will be adversely affected by the increase of prices due to the implementation of the imposition of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. 

Atty. LaisaAlamia, ARMM executive secretary and concurrent DSWD regional secretary, said the cash grants would be given immediately to those affected by the fire. “What little we can do to alleviate their suffering should be of top most priority now. The extra amount from the UCT will go a long way for the IDPs,” Alamia said.

The 1,325 beneficiaries from Busbus and 290 from Walled City in Jolo will receive a total of P16,484,400 in cash grants. Daycare and elementary school children will receive P300 each while P500 will be given to every high school student displaced by the fire. Pregnant women who have to undergo prenatal checkups will also be given P500 each for health allowance.

The DSWD-ARMM situation report shows that about 30,000 IDPs are still displaced and temporarily seeking shelter at the five evacuation centers in Sulu. The ARMM government, together with the Office of the President, is firm in providing support and assistance to the IDPs. 

On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte himself will be visiting the IDPs and will be present during the release of cash grants.

(BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Maguindanao town officials surrender 10 more firearms

YIELDED FIREARMS --- Mayor Bai Anida Abas-Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, hands over a firearm to Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army’s 601st Brigade, during the ceremonial turn-over of 10 high-powered loose firearms at the town hall last July 27.In April this year, the town also yielded 17 loose firearms to military authorities (Photo by 6thID / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

SIONGCO, Maguindanao --- Town officials of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao have surrendered 10 loose firearms to the military last July 27.

Datu Saudi Ampatuan MayorBaiAnidaAbas-Dimaukom turned over the high-powered guns to Brig. Gen. DiosdadoCarreon, commander of the Army’s 601st Brigade, and Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in a ceremony held at the Municipal Hall. 

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the surrendered firearms included two 60-mm. mortar launchers, two sniper rifles, three M203 grenade launchers, one .50-caliber Barrett-type rifle, one .30-caliber machine gun, and an 81-mm mortar launcher.

Last April 24, the town also surrendered 17 loose firearms to the Army.

“The municipality of Datu Saudi has once again proven their support and cooperation to the campaign against loose firearms as this is their fourth  time to hand over unlicensed firearms to the Army,” Brig. Gen.

CirilitoSobejana, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said in a statement.

The number of assorted loose firearms surrendered to the 6th1D since January has totaled 1,913. 

Man yields gun, hand grenade

In another development, the police arrested a man with a gun at a checkpoint in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, while assorted firearms and explosives were also seized in the houses of his brothers in separate raids last July 24.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, police regional director for Region-12, said arrested at a police checkpoint in PurokMupak, Barangay Tambak, Lambayong, was Roy GuimalMupak for possession of a firearm and explosive.

Seized from Mupak were a .38-caliber revolver with ammunition and a hand grenade.

In separate follow-up operations, police raided the house of Datu Not Mupak but he eluded arrest. Seized from his home were a rifle grenade projectile, a 9-mm improvised machine pistol, and ammunition. 

In another house, lawmen also recovered a fragmentation grenade in the room of MuslimenMupak, another sibling of the suspects, who they said also managed to elude arrest.

“Our fight against criminality continues, even intensified. For as long as there is threat to our peace and security in the region, we will not rest yet, we will conscientiously perform our job,” Morales said in a statement.

Morales added that their primary duty is “to give the people of Soccsksargen their right to have a peaceful living, and that is through giving teeth to the law.” (Noel Punzalan& Edwin Fernandez, PNA– Cotabato / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Celebrity guests laud traditional ARMM cuisines

MORO CUISINE ---The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao held a five-day food festival last week to showcase the different Moro delicacies as part of the region’s 27th Founding Anniversary celebration in this city.(BPI-ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---As the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) showcased its traditional Moro cuisines during a food festival held here last July 26, celebrity guests lauded the region’s unique food and delicacies, noting they would promote the ARMM in many ways they can. 

The ARMM food fest puts the spotlight on culinary delights of the region’s five provinces as part of the 29th Founding Anniversary celebration.

Certified foodie and blogger ErwanHeusaff, celebrity chef Boy Logro, actor-restaurateur DietherOcampo, BecomingFilipino blogger Kyle ‘Kulas’ Jennermann, and Anak Mindanao Executive Director DjaliaTurabinHataman were among the event’s judges. 

Chieftains and representatives of each village wore their traditional attire during the event.

Compared with the cuisines of other regions, which tend to be sweetened, the Moros’ cooking remains strongly ancestral utilizing a good deal of coconut milk and rich in ground spices. Typical ingredients include chili, turmeric, sambal, coriander, lemon grass, and peanut butter. Because of Islamic laws, pork and alcohol are absent in the native cuisine of the Moros.

“It’s amazing, the culture and beauty that is here in the region, from the people to the colors to the music to the dance to the food; these are incredible,” Canadian blogger Jennermann said.

“It is so much hard to promote the food here because you don’t even know how to describe how amazing it is, so everybody in the Philippines should see this and understand this,” he added.

Promoting the culinary delights in the ARMM through his blog, Heusaff said: “I do videos and I think I just want to focus on the food and culture here in ARMM and I will put it into video and hopefully people will get curious and actually realize that they can travel here and experience it for themselves.”

“Food here in the ARMM is really good, everything was really surprising, actually most of the dishes I’ve tasted I wasn't familiar (but those were) really tasty and delicious and I’m glad I was able to taste the food here and looking forward to joining more (events),” he added.

The food festival marks the celebration of the region’s diverse flavors reflecting its culture and a celebration of cuisine and culinary talents of the Moro people.

Popular actor Ocampo noted that joining the food festival is a great opportunity to share the good news not only to Filipinos but also to the world.

“It’s about time to recognize (our own) – the culinary expertise in our country, something I’ve always been looking forward to. Now that I have the chance to have a great experience with them, I think we should definitely continue doing this in the next couple of years,” Ocampo said, adding that experiencing the food in the region is a great surprise for him.

He also suggested that each village should share their recipes so they can share these delights in other parts of the country. 

Part of the proceeds from the activity will be used to provide relief assistance to families affected by Tuesday’s (July 24) fire in Jolo, Sulu. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COMELEC-Cotabato urged to monitor 'multiple registrants'

COMELEC APPEAL --- Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi faces reporters during a press conference last July 24  where she urged the city’s Commission on Elections office to closely monitor the locality in the ongoing early voters registration procedure.  (PHOTO BY PNA-COTABATO/MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani–Sayadi has urged the city’s Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to closely monitor its early voters’ registration procedure following the reported sudden influx of new registrants.

“My request is for the COMELEC office to watch on people registering as city voters well. In fact, they are not from here,” Sayadi said during a press conference held LAST July 24 at the city hall.

Sayadi said she made the request following reports that there are people from neighboring Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces registering as new voters in the city.

The COMELEC has set the early voters registration from July 2 to September 29 this year based on COMELEC Resolution 10392 or the “Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration of Voters Pursuant to Resolution No. 10166 and Republic Act No. 8189 for the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections.”

In a meeting last July 23, the mayor said City Election Officer Michael Igne has assured her of “safety nets” against multiple registrants in the voters’ master list.

“One of the safety nets according to Atty. Ignes is the biometric fingerprint registration system to which every voter must undergo, and I believe him on that. But I insisted that continuous monitoring is a must” she said.

Based on existing election records, this city has 103,530 registered voters out of 299,000 population.

Meanwhile, the Election Office in Maguindanao has reported a gradual turn-out of registrants in the ongoing early voters’ registration across the province.

At6ty. Udtog Tago, Maguindanao provincial election supervisor, said they have required new voter registrants to produce a National Statistics Office-accredited birth certificate upon registration.

“This is to prevent future flying voters or multiple registrants from entering our voters’ list based on our past experience,” Tago said.

He said they are also relying on the much-improved COMELEC biometrics system to determine spurious registrants.

“The biometric results are forwarded to our COMELEC head office in Manila to further determine double registrants,” Tago stressed.

During the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls, the COMELEC-Maguindanao office has delisted more than 3,000 residents for having multiple voters' registration.

Tago said the province has a total of 634,323 registered voters. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA – COTABATO/ MINDANAO EXPOSE)